Weddle-West Voted GRE Board Chair-Elect

By Kate Simone

Dr. Karen Weddle-West, dean of the graduate school, vice provost for academic affairs and director of diversity initiatives at the University of Memphis, has been voted chair-elect of the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) Board. The national board establishes all policies for the GRE program, the most widely used graduate-school admissions test, and oversees GRE assessments, services and research.

Weddle-West was nominated to serve as the Council of Graduate Schools’ representative on the GRE Board in 2009. She has also served on the GRE research and finance committees and as the GRE Board’s representative on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Board.

Hometown: Native Memphian

Experience: Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Previously served as assistant professor in child and family studies at Tennessee State University and Ohio State University before joining the University of Memphis in 1991 as recruitment coordinator for the College of Education.

Favorite quote: In 1959, Dr. King stated: “Whatever career you may choose for yourself – doctor, lawyer, teacher – let me propose an avocation to be pursued along with it. Become a dedicated fighter for civil rights. Make it a central part of your life. It will make you a better doctor, a better lawyer, a better teacher. It will enrich your spirit as nothing else possibly can. It will give you that rare sense of nobility that can only spring from love and selflessly helping your fellow man” (and woman). [Italics mine.] “Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for human rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and finer world to live in.”

What’s playing on your stereo right now? “Between Here and There” by Kurt Carr

Activities you enjoy outside of work: Singing in the nationally renowned sanctuary choir at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church

What talent do you wish you had? I wish I had continued piano lessons to have honed the talent to play the piano.

What do you most enjoy about working in higher education? I enjoy most the ability to provide resources and support to facilitate the completion of master’s and doctoral degrees for those who are first-generation students and who could not have achieved their goal without this support.

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment? Becoming the first African-American dean of the graduate school/vice provost for academic affairs at the University of Memphis.

If you could give one piece of advice to young people, what would it be? Whatever goal you have set for your life, dream bigger, and believe in a power greater than yourself.

Lisa Bobango has been appointed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam to the Tennessee Arts Commission. Bobango, the sustainer director for the Junior League of Memphis, will serve a five-year term.

Laura Fenton has joined CB Richard Ellis Memphis as director of marketing and research, and Kristin Trulove has joined as marketing coordinator. Fenton previously worked as publications writer with the University of Memphis’ marketing, public relations and communication department. Trulove previously worked as the leasing administrator for CBRE Memphis’ Industrial Asset Services for three years.

HORNE LLP has promoted Ashley Gevers and Jack Brelandof its Memphis office to senior associates. Gevers and Breland both focus their work on financial institutions.

Inferno has won eight 2013 Communicator Awards, including awards of excellence in corporate identity: logo, print advertising: advertising campaign, and websites: shopping; three awards of distinction for corporate identity: logo; and awards of distinction in print advertising: advertising campaign, and websites: health care services. In addition, the firm won two awards of excellence in the 2013 Videographer Awards’ documentary category. It also won a bronze telly in the Telly Awards for branded content: business to business.